Jomo to revive Notwane attack

Publishing Date : 03 October, 2018

Author : MOSIMANEGAPE TSHOSWANE

Former national team midfield-cum striker, Moemedi ‘Jomo’ Moatlhaping is expected to agree and finalise a long anticipated move to his dream club Notwane Sporting Club, having been sweet-talked by the team’s influential minds into ignoring less intriguing offer from his former club Sharp Shooting Stars.

The former Gaborone United player had a running contract with Somerest Gobuiwang’s Sharps but he has been unable to ignore the pull of Notwane, the club at which he seeks to write his name into folklore and also re-unite with former coach, Pio Paul. Jomo will join Notwane for the remainder of the season and is expected to be offered a competitive contract should he impress.

He had a successful season with Sharps where he won the Debswana First Division South title championship under Paul’s tutelage. Sharps qualified for the top 8 competition with Jomo playing a pivotal role. As the current season progresses, Jomo is expected to be guided-once again- by Pio Paul to mount a serious challenge for this year’s silver ware.

Notwane have reshuffled their attacking options, losing darling striker Ishmael Amposah. Notwane’s technical team complained bitterly this season about the lack of productivity from the team’s attackers but they hope that the ever-consistent Thabiso Boti and Moatlhaping—aided perhaps by Sthembile Mbuque who remains on the books—can fire an upturn.

All the while, it is said Moatlhaping will not be an immediate first-choice selection but Pio Paul hopes that his personality and experience will serve to inspire the rest of the attacking options, most notably the young inexperienced players. Notwane have always sought to have leaders in their squad, players who have won big games and can bolster the collective belief. Their signing of Topo Piet this season was rooted, in part, by what he could bring away from the field.

Jomo will also of course join and sign to play, not to inspire, as he once declared he is about to quit Botswana football. The club says that there is no option built into the deal for him to join them after his deal lapses. Moatlhaping could have joined The Toronto Boys at the beginning of the season, but contractual obligations with Sharps tied him down. On one hand, Sharps refused to release his registration book because they felt Notwane was not honest on the deal.

However, Sharps are the biggest losers as Moatlhaping is about to enter Notwane camp. It is said the player has successfully terminated his deal with Sharps because his contract was not adhered to. To date, Sechaba has played five games and accumulated five points. The attacking front has only found the net 6 times.